UFC Fight Night Payouts: Leben Earns $60,000

UFC veteran Chris Leben
was the biggest bread-earner at Monday’s UFC
Fight Night 20 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., despite
his assignment to the event’s undercard. “The Ultimate Fighter”
alumnus banked $60,000 for his unanimous decision win against
Jay
Silva, a fight that didn’t make the live broadcast on Spike
TV.

Thanks to the UFC’s popular performance bonuses, a few other
fighters’ pockets weren’t left much lighter than Leben’s.

Evan
Dunham scored $48,000 for his third-round submission over TUF 8
winner Efrain
Escudero (who made $15,000), which included a $30,000 bonus for
the finish. Aaron
Simpson ($52,000) and Tom Lawlor
($40,000) shared in “Fight of the Night” honors for a spirited
back-and-forth tilt that saw Simpson’s comeback in the later
rounds. They were both rewarded with $30,000 pay boosts as
well.

In the main event, Xtreme Couture product Gray
Maynard took home $40,000 for his split decision nod over
Nate
Diaz, who earned $48,000. Though Maynard avenged a mid 2007
loss to Diaz that took place on “The Ultimate Fighter 5,” the
accomplished 30-year-old wrestler did little to bolster claim to a
shot at champion B.J. Penn’s
lightweight title.

Note: These numbers, released to Sherdog.com by the Virginia
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, are
disclosed pay only. They do not include additional bonuses or
percentages of other revenue.